AF
changes fitness test criteria
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By
Staff Sgt. C. Todd Lopez
Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials are making
a few changes to the physical fitness test used to assess
the fitness of Airmen.
In January 2004, the Air Force underwent a major change in
the way it looked at fitness. As part of the Fit to Fight
program, the service adopted a more stringent physical fitness
assessment that measures aero
Now, 18 months into the program, senior leaders are ready
to tweak the assessment to make it even better, said Lt. Gen.
(Dr.) George Peach Taylor Jr., Air Force surgeon general.
"We have gotten together a group of scientists and done
surveys asking folks if they like the assessment and are there
issues with it," Taylor said. "This last year we
brought an update to Corona and are now in the middle of updating
a few changes to the Air Force instruction that defines the
fitness evaluation."
Updates to AFI 10-248 “Fitness Program” will include
a change in how body composition is measured, a new table
for the running portion of the test that takes into account
the runner's elevation, and a change in the number of days
an Airman must wait before retesting after having scored in
the marginal category.
Under the original fitness evaluation, body composition scores
were based on abdominal circumference only. The updated AFI
will now direct that body composition also be measured using
body mass index.
BMI is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in
inches squared, and multiplying the result by 703. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with
a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered to be normal. Those
with a BMI of 25 or above are considered overweight.
Under the updated AFI, Airmen with a BMI of less than 25 will
earn the full 30 points for body composition. For Airmen who
score a BMI 25 and above, Taylor said the results of the waist
measurement would be used to calculate their test score.
"That will still be an important measure of their health,"
he said. "Waist measure is closely related to increased
risk for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and heart
disease. Fat distribution is the critical indicator, as opposed
to weight."
For those who score marginal, between 70 and 74.9 points,
the Air Force plans to correct the time to retest at 90 days;
currently, retest for the marginal category is 180 days. This
will be consistent with the retest time for poor scores, those
less than 70.
Changes to the AFI will also include adjustment for those
at high-altitude installations. This applies to those at installations
with an elevation of 5,000 feet or greater, Taylor said.
"We'll use the formula for altitude calculations recommended
by the National Collegiate Athletic Association," he
said.
The Air Force continues to look at ways to improve the fitness
evaluation and remains committed to the Fit to Fight program,
Taylor said, because the program has proven successful.
"Participation at fitness centers is up 30 percent now,"
he said. "And if you go to the field, like in Iraq or
Afghanistan,
you will find a continued focus on health."
The
assessment is not the focus of the fitness program, but a
tool to assess the commander’s fitness training program.
“I
want to make very clear that my focus is not on passing a
fitness test once a year,” said Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force
chief of staff, in his Oct. 17, 2003, Chief’s Sight Picture.
“More important, we are changing the culture of the Air Force.
This is about our preparedness to deploy and fight. It’s about
warriors. It is about instilling an expectation that makes
fitness a daily standard -- an essential part of your service."
Taylor
said he hopes the changes to the AFI will be made by late
August or early September.
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